1
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My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you. |
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2
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Keep my commandments and live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. |
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3
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Tie them to your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. |
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4
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Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your kinsman, |
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5
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that they may keep you from the adulteress, from the stranger with seductive words. |
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6
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For at the window of my house I looked through the lattice. |
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7
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I saw among the simple, I noticed among the youths, a young man lacking judgment, |
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8
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crossing the street near her corner, strolling down the road to her house, |
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9
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at twilight, as the day was fading into the dark of the night. |
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10
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Then a woman came out to meet him, with the attire of a harlot and cunning of heart. |
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11
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She is loud and defiant; her feet do not remain at home. |
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12
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Now in the street, now in the squares, she lurks at every corner. |
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13
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She seizes him and kisses him; she brazenly says to him: |
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14
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“I have made my peace offerings; today I have paid my vows. |
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15
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So I came out to meet you; I sought you, and I have found you. |
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16
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I have decked my bed with coverings, with colored linen from Egypt. |
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17
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I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, with aloes, and with cinnamon. |
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18
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Come, let us take our fill of love till morning. Let us delight in loving caresses! |
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19
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For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. |
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20
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He took with him a bag of money and will not return till the moon is full.” |
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21
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With her great persuasion she entices him; with her flattering lips she lures him. |
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22
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He follows her on impulse, like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding into a trap, |
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23
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until an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare—not knowing it will cost him his life. |
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24
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Now, my sons, listen to me, and attend to the words of my mouth. |
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25
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Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths. |
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26
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For she has brought many down to death; her slain are many in number. |
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27
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Her house is the road to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death. |
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